When you think of gourmet, does Afghan cuisine spring to mind?

[Squatch]

If not, it should. The food over here is astounding.

A local Kandahar man that I've known for a while just brought over dinner that consisted of goat and chicken cooked to absolute perfection. I don't know what spices they use, but it's phenomenal. The only better meat I've eaten is chivito in San Luis Argentina.

He also brought over my one weakness...naan.

Forget the naan you buy in the supermarkets back in the states. That junk is for posers. The stuff over here is made from hand ground wheat and baked in wood-fired tandoor ovens. The bread is the size of a skateboard, and sort of like New York style pizza crust, but a bazillion times better. The outside is dry and crispy with a faint aroma of the wood smoke. The inside is soft and chewy with a strong taste of stone-ground wheat.

The cuisine is simple and plentiful. Meals are communal, with everybody digging in and sharing from the same plate. I'm usually the ony guy who uses utensils, so I make sure I get my portion before everybody else digs in with their grubby hands.